Thanksgiving Seder Service

You are here

Sun, 11/14/2021 - 10:00am

CELEBRATION CHURCH SERMON DISCUSSION GUIDE:  THANKSGIVING SEDER

Thanksgiving Seder - Pastor Zach Prosser

Exodus 12:14 and Luke 19:15-20

 Searching for the Leaven
Exodus 12:19-20; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8
“Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us with Your commandments, and instructed us concerning the removal of leaven. Amen.”

 Discuss what it means for us as believers to ‘search for leaven’. Why is this such an important first step for the Seder?

 The Cup of Sanctification

Exodus 6:6-7

“Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine. Amen.”

 Washing Our Hands
Titus 3:5; John 13

“Lord, we pray that our hearts also will be clean before You and not just our hands. For it is written: ‘Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His holy place? He that has clean hands, and a pure heart; who has not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.’ (Psalm 24:3-5)”

 Breaking of the Middle Matzah
In the ceremony of breaking, the middle matzah is broken in two, and one half is removed and hidden. We wrap this half and bury it symbolically. It is hidden somewhere in the room to be found and “ransomed” later in the Seder.

 What does this breaking and hiding of the matzah mean for believers? How does this relate to the Seder being a remembrance of Deliverance?

 The Telling of the Passover
Isaiah 55:1; Exodus 12:26; Psalm 113
On this night why do we eat only matzah? On this night why do we eat only bitter herbs? On this night why do we dip twice? On this night why do we only recline?

 The Cup of Praise
Hebrews 10:22

“Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine. Amen.” 

 Discuss something you are thankful or giving praise for today.

 The Bitter Herbs
“Blessed are You, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us and has commanded us to eat bitter herbs. Amen.”

At a traditional Passover, those present would dip twice of the bitter herbs to remember the bondage in Egypt, and to remember that bitter circumstances are sweetened by the hope we have in God. At this time, the hidden matzah would be found.

 The Cup of Redemption
Exodus 6:6; Matthew 26:28-29

This would have been the cup that Jesus lifted when celebrating Passover with the disciples

 The Cup of Acceptance 

Exodus 6:7

688 Dan Street, Akron, OH 44310 | 330-762-7458 | www.CCAkron.org